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THE SECOND BOOKE 217
Unlesse it be that where force fails her, she will use
policie and shew a tricke of nimblenesse and turne
away, where the vigor both of her bodie and armes
shall faile her. For not onely to a strict Philosopher,
but simply to any setled man, when he by experience
feeleth the burning alteration of a hot fever, what
currant paiment is it to pay him with the remembrance
of the sweetnesse of Greeke wine? It would rather
empaire his bargaine.
Che ricordaui il ben doppia la noia*
For to thinke of our jo}',
Redoubles our annoy.
Of that condition is this other counsell, which Philosophie
giveth onely to keepe forepast felicities in
memorie, and thence blot out such griefes as we have
felt: as if the skill to forget were in our power : and
counsell of which we have much lesse regard :
Suavis est laborum prcetei itorum memotia.*
Of labours overpast,
Remembrance hath sweet taste
What? shall Philosophic, which ought to put the
weapons into my hands to fight against Fortune ; which
should harden my courage, to suppress and lay at my
feet all humane adversities, will she so faint as to
make me like a fearfull cunnie creepe into some lurkinghole,
and like a craven to tremble and yeeld? For
memorie representeth unto us, not what we chuse, but
what pleaseth her. Nay, there is nothing so deeply
imprinteth anything in our remembrance as the desire
to forget the same: it is a good way to commend to
the keeping, and imprint anything in our minde, to
solicit her to lose the same. And that is false, Est
situm in nobis, ut et adversa quasi perpetua oblivione
obruamus, et secunda jucunde et suaviter meminerimus: 2
' This is engrafted in us, or at least in our power, that
we both burie in perpetuall oblivion tilings past against
1 CIC. Fin, 1. ii.; EURIP. ² CIC. Fin. Bon, 1. i.